ESPN issues two corrections to Sean Miller wiretap report

It has gotten a lot of things wrong lately

ESPN has made two corrections to its report that Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller discussed a $100,000 payment to secure the signing of Deandre Ayton.

Mark Schlabach said on TV Friday that FBI wiretaps have Miller discussing a payment to Ayton with former ASM employee Christian Dawkins in 2017, but, perhaps after being notified that Ayton had already signed with Arizona by then, ESPN corrected the date to “spring of 2016.”

It then changed it to just “2016.” Ayton committed to Arizona in September of that year. His family has denied any wrongdoing, while UA’s outside counsel strongly defended Ayton, saying there is “not a shred” of evidence that suggests he broke any NCAA rules. (To be fair, ESPN’s report never said any money actually changed hands.)

ESPN also misinterpreted Miller’s contract details, reporting that he would be paid more if fired with cause than without it, but Anne Ryman of AZCentral debunked that Sunday night.

Even worse: an ESPN announcer inaccurately said during the Arizona State-Oregon State game that Miller had been let go by Arizona.

Not a great look by the Worldwide Leader, and it has some questioning the veracity of Schlabach’s report.

Miller did not coach Arizona on Saturday against Oregon, but said in a statement that he is confident he will be “vindicated.”

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Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire

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